While picking out the looks that I want to bring to the Greater LA Woman shelves is exciting, there is more to fashion buying than meets the eye! I’ll be facing the blazing desert heat of Las Vegas, and retreating to air-conditioned convention centers FULL of clothing to pick out looks for winter 2010 and Spring 2011! Many people don’t realize that most clothing vendors take orders 3-6 months in advance, so the clothes we buy now won’t be available to our customers until late October or after. Can you imagine what trends are going to be hot for Spring next year?  This is where I go to find out what the designers decided about that!  No matter what they decided, I’ll make sure to pick clothes I know my shoppers will love!  With this show happening twice a year, I get to go through the buying process once again in February, when I’ll be picking out new looks for the Summer and Fall seasons 2011.

These shows are super important – not only to refresh our inventory and keep current on the best new designs in plus size fashions, but they’re also a great way for me to mingle with other people in the industry. In order to attend the show, you are required to either own a store or be involved in the clothing/apparel industry in some capacity. I will be surrounded by other people who are doing what I’m doing, and we can exchange insights into what product lines have the best fit, wear well, deliver on time, and are the ones almost that almost all customers seem to love!

I’m getting really excited about this upcoming show. I’ll be focusing on new designs in women plus size clothing lines as well as shopping from trusted store favorites like Citron, Tianello, Fenini, and Alex Avening.  And – I’ll sneak a peek at the other women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, as well as lingerie, foundations, jewelry, shoes, hats and other accessories while I am there. We see lines from all over the US and items from countries like Canada, Israel, and other locations worldwide. With approximately 100,000 people coming into town for the show, Vegas will be buzzing with fashion buyers and sellers!

Often times it can be difficult to find a swimsuit that you not only love to wear, but one that you are comfortable in and one that fits and flatters your body.  Finding plus size swimsuits can be very tricky because many of today’s swimsuits are made to be compression suits.  These compression suits can bunch and pinch in the wrong places, and can be very uncomfortable to wear.

When shopping for a swimsuit, there are a variety of styles available today ranging from minimal coverage to very full coverage.  Choose a suit that will offers the coverage you are looking for with a flattering cut for your personal shape.  The options range from high cut, medium cut, a “girl leg”, shorts, a sheath cut, and suits that have either attached or detachable skirts.  A “girl leg” swimsuit can be a very flattering style for women with thicker legs and falls lower on your leg than a high cut or medium cut leg typically would (without looking like a short).  You can also find many styles and cuts that come with a detachable sheath or skirt, which attaches to the waist of your swimsuit to provide extra coverage and comfort.

Once you’ve picked a comfortable, flattering suit that you absolutely love, it’s time to hit the beach, lake, pool, or BBQ!  Build your summer wardrobe and pair your suit with a summer dress in a great print or combine a camisole, a summer cotton cover-up, and a flowy skirt.  Our plus size selection of unique women’s swimsuits at The Greater LA Woman in Long Beach will keep you styling and comfortable all summer long!

By accessorizing any look, you can instantly add personality, color, and that trendy print to your wardrobe.  Your favorite basic black, fit-me-perfectly pants with a bold necklace, scarf, or even a fun summer cotton top instantly creates the look you desire.  Your favorite white top can be worn with green earrings, a large yellow cocktail ring, or a turquoise summer bag and you instantly have 3 new outfits.

Pick trends that will compliment what already exists in your wardrobe.  My mixing and matching your those closet staples with various accessories or that new trendy item, you can achieve that perfect combination which will always leave you looking your best.  Not to mention it’s much easier on the wallet!

Make sure you have a great base to work from when you open your closet in the morning.  You want each piece of clothing to fit you and help you to look your best.  Throw on some bangles, sunglasses, and an oversized handbag and you’re ready to take on the day!

First, become familiar with what type of body shape you have.  Here is a fairly useful guide on how to determine which body type you are apple shaped, hourglass shaped, pear shaped, or rectangle shaped.  It also includes which areas you should emphasize and which areas to play down. http://bit.ly/9bZ8QF.  Next, shop for clothes that will fit and flatter your designated body type.  If your shoulders are your best asset, find those classic items that will show them off.  You will wear them again and again!

When shopping at the Greater LA Woman you will find a large selection of flattering clothes that are really designed to flatter a woman’s body.  A great example is the Tianello line (which you can find it in our store or on our online store).  Tianello offers clothes that can be custom ordered in any of their cuts, styles or fabrics.  If you like a particular blouse, but like it in a different print, we can custom order the item in your desired size and style.

Our new Tianello print, modeled by the lovely Donna!

Jillian Terrell

Reah Norman

Melissa Parker

Yesterday, I spent the day with an amazing team of professionals that helped me shoot over 100 plus size styles to be added to our website over the next few weeks!  We have been getting new Spring arrivals and I am looking forward to sharing many of them with you online, as well as in the boutique. 

A large photo shoot can be an exhausting endeavor made up of lots of details.  At the end of the day, the results are only as good as the entire team makes them.  I am very fortunate to have had an amazing team!  I want to share some behind the scenes pictures and give a shout out to some outrageously talented and professional people:

Thanks to Marlene G for providing gorgeous make up that the camera loved, quickly and with good humor, as well as allowing us to use her new MGI photography studio for our shoot.  It was a great space – perfect for the shoot and the upcoming April Plus Size Mixer her company MGI is co-sponsoring with Reah Norman and Chenise Lewis.

Satu Vuorenmaa, our photographer was amazing!  She tirelessly took over 1300 shots to make sure I got exactly what I was looking for while helping keep everything moving efficiently.  Her suggestions and eagle eye always help the shots turn out great.

Thanks to Jillian Terrell and Melissa Parker for being, as always, fun, professional, gorgeous and fast!  And a special thanks to Reah Norman, stylist extraordinaire, who agreed to participate in front of the lens as a model.  Reah has modeled upon many occasions, and really demonstrated her experience and professionalism by giving us great pose after great pose.  All of the models did an amazing job, had the BEST attitudes, and honored me with their dedication to the project by staying focused on the task at hand, hour after hour, with no complaints or distractions!

Thank you ladies and we’ll get your pictures posted soon!

Prima Donna Madison

The Greater LA Woman is proud to announce our March 4, 2010 Prima Donna trunk show!

Prima Donna is a Belgian brand that offers an outstanding selection of everyday full figure bras as well as gorgeous, fashionable luxury bras and full body shapers.  They are known for the incredible comfort, durability and support for fuller figured women.  Prima Donna offers up to a 42H in most styles and in some styles goes up to a 46H! 

Join us March 4th, from 3-7 PM, for a view of the full Spring selection available from Prima Donna.  Many items in the show are already in stock in most sizes.  Others can be ordered.

Free fittings available during the show, or in advance.

Light refreshements will be provided.

Call 562-930-0339 for more information.

The Greater LA Woman 5345 E 2nd St. Long Beach, CA 90803

Women Helping Women is specifically looking for gently used or new office apparel, shoes, hand bags and jewelry.  Our thanks to the many clients that have already donated wonderful items.  We will continue the donation drive through Feb 28, 2010.  Those who donate get a coupon good for up to $50 off a purchase at The Greater LA Woman.

Spring 2010 still has a wide selection of lighter browns with a pop of color from fuchsia, coral a carry through of the teal color from fall.  The biggest surprise, deep gold tones, as well as the brighter, bolder GOLDENROD which actually seems to look great on almost all skin tones!

The colors look fabulous and fun for Spring and somewhat somber and serious for the fall winter.  But, they are all beautiful!

PETA loves to be controversial and yes, they’ve done it again.  In an attempt to try to convert people to vegetarians (so animals no longer suffer at our hands for our carnivore desires) they have used faulty logic and insulted some of the very people who would normally support them.

With their latest billboard ad, the real question is:  Are they trying to win support or lose all credibility? Some say all PR is good PR.  I think they have proven this saying to be inaccurate.  PETA’s logic is that if you are vegetarian, you will become thin and healthy.  Like any diet, this may or may not be true, depending on the quantity you consume and what you eat (raw veggies and plant based proteins may get you there, french fries and fried zucchini probably won’t).   Offensive advertising with faulty logic just highlights the message that someone does not know what the hell they’re talking about.  This can result in people ignoring relevant and truthful information because they no longer see the source as credible and look past ALL of its future commentary.

For the full story see:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/17/petas-new-save-the-whales_n_261134.html